IT WAS American race-car legend Bobby Unser who said: “Success is where preparation and opportunity meet” – a statement that is oftentimes exemplified by Guyana’s National Rugby team, which is considered as one of country’s most consistent national programmes in sport.

Nicknamed the ‘Green Machine’ because of their style of play which made them the Caribbean’s top Rugby-playing nation at both formats of the game (15s and 7s), the Guyanese side will face the USA today from 14:00hrs at the National Park Rugby Field, in the final of the Rugby Americas North (RAN) 15s tournament.
“I still remember what happened in 2014 like it was yesterday and that’s one of the reasons we’re here; to get revenge and win the title,” said the USA head coach Rene Daniel while speaking to Chronicle Sport after the team’s first practice session since arriving in Guyana.

Daniel, reminiscing on the game where captain Ryan Gonsalves scored a conversion in the closing seconds of extra time to give Guyana a 30-27 win over the USA in Atlanta, said that the game was one of the best of the year (2014) across the IRB, and while he didn’t have sleepless nights about the loss, a win today against Guyana is the only thing on his side’s mind.
“We’re hoping to return the favour, absolutely. In fact, it’s nice that we’re down here (in Guyana) because this is our first visit. It will be a good rivalry just like the USA in soccer,” Daniel said.
He added “I have been following Guyana over the past year when they played against the usual teams – Trinidad, Barbados – and as usual their sevens team have been playing really well. I thought they’re a team that could win one against USA or Canada because Guyana has tremendous athletes”

“Our biggest strength for the game (today) is that we’ll play as a unit. We don’t have a particular player to say that if he’s lacking we’re going to replace him, so we will certainly be playing together,” the USA coach.

Guyana will have a chance to not only reclaim the title that was won by Mexico last year, but also do something that several teams in RAN have never done; beat the USA twice.
After Guyana outclassed Trinidad and Tobago 24-17 on June 10, they were preparing for a trip to Mexico City to face Mexico who were tipped to beat the Cayman Islands.
However, the game proved how unpredictable sports could be, since the Cayman Islands emerged winners 39-17 over the Mexicans, which means that the Americans were crowned RAN’s North Zone champions.
The visit by the USA will mark their first to Guyana and their second in the Caribbean after travelling to Trinidad and Tobago in 2013 where they left with the RAN 15s title; winning 26-18.
“This game means a lot for us and I know the guys are going to leave everything on the field tomorrow (today) because we have a point to prove,” said the Green Machine captain Gonsalves.
Not since their triumph at the 2010 CAC Games (7s championship) at the Guyana National Stadium have the Green Machine played any of their many major finals at home, and as such, Gonsalves believes that crowd support will be significant.
Gonsalves said that most of the squad from 2014 will be returning to face the USA today, including Vallon Adams and Claudius Butts who brought the game back for Guyana in Atlanta.
The scrum off player told Chronicle Sport that more than anything, he’s hoping that a ‘sea of yellow and green’ will flood the National Park to cheer them on.
Gonsalves said that he’s happy, that for the first time in seven years, Guyana will be playing for a major title at home and as such he encouraged everyone to “come out and give us that energy.”
TEAM: Jason Tyrell, Claudius Butts, Rickford Cummings, Ryan Gonsalves, Vallon Adams, Richard Staglon, Peabo Hamilton, Avery Corbin, Godfrey Broomes, Ronald Mayers, Ahmed Issacs, Dwayne Schroeder, Kevon David, Rondell McArthur, Ronald Mayers, Allen Crawford, Dillon Downer, Cyon Pitt, Lancelot Adonis, Cloyd Prowell, Jamal Angus and Patrick King.